一本正经 yī běn zhèng jīng with a straight face

Explanation

一本正经，指态度庄重严肃，郑重其事。有时也含讽刺意味，表示说话或做事不近人情，过于严肃呆板。

The idiom "一本正经" refers to a serious and solemn attitude, being serious about what one is doing. It can also have a sarcastic meaning, indicating that one is too serious and rigid, not understanding the way of the world.

Origin Story

在一个偏远的小山村，住着一位名叫李老实的老人。李老实以正直善良闻名，他的一言一行都显得那么一本正经，从不苟言笑。村里人都知道，只要李老实说的话，那一定是金玉良言，绝无虚假。 有一天，村里来了个外乡人，他自称是江湖郎中，声称能治百病。外乡人为了招揽生意，就在村口搭了个简陋的棚子，摆了些草药，还弄了些稀奇古怪的工具。村里人好奇地围观，但都对他的医术心存疑虑。 李老实也站在人群中，他仔细观察着外乡人的举动，发现他的手法并不专业，使用的草药也都是些寻常之物。于是，他一本正经地走到外乡人面前，说：“老先生，你所用的这些草药，都是些寻常之物，并不能治百病。你这样一本正经地行医，恐怕会误人子弟。” 外乡人被李老实的话说得面红耳赤，辩解道：“我医术高超，这些草药也是经过精心挑选的，能治百病。” 李老实摇摇头，说：“老先生，医术是要靠真才实学的，不能靠花言巧语来蒙骗世人。你的做法实在是让人心寒。” 外乡人被李老实说得无言以对，只好收拾东西灰溜溜地离开了。 村民们对李老实的行为感到佩服，都说他正直善良，是他们心中的榜样。李老实也因此更加坚定自己的信念，继续以一本正经的态度，做好自己的事。

zài yī ge piān yuǎn de xiǎo shān cūn, zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào lǐ lǎo shí de lǎo rén. lǐ lǎo shí yǐ zhèng zhí shàn liáng wén míng, tā de yī yán yī xíng dōu xiǎn de nà me yī běn zhèng jīng, cóng bù gǒu yán xiào. cūn lǐ rén dōu zhī dào, zhǐ yào lǐ lǎo shí shuō de huà, nà yī dìng shì jīn yù liáng yán, jué wú xū jiǎ. yǒu yī tiān, cūn lǐ lái le ge wài xiāng rén, tā zì chēng shì jiāng hú láng zhōng, shēng chēng néng zhì bǎi bìng. wài xiāng rén wèi le zhāo lǎn shēng yì, jiù zài cūn kǒu dā le ge jiǎn lòu de péng zi, bǎi le xiē cǎo yào, hái nòng le xiē xī qí gǔ guài de gōng jù. cūn lǐ rén hào qí de wéi guān, dàn dōu duì tā de yī shù xīn cún yí lǜ. lǐ lǎo shí yě zhàn zài rén qún zhōng, tā zǐ xì guān chá zhe wài xiāng rén de jǔ dòng, fā xiàn tā de shǒu fǎ bù bìng zhuān yè, shǐ yòng de cǎo yào yě dōu shì xiē xún cháng zhī wù. yú shì, tā yī běn zhèng jīng de zǒu dào wài xiāng rén miàn qián, shuō: “lǎo xiān sheng, nǐ suǒ yòng de zhè xiē cǎo yào, dōu shì xiē xún cháng zhī wù, bìng bù néng zhì bǎi bìng. nǐ zhè yàng yī běn zhèng jīng de xíng yī, kǒng pà huì wù rén zǐ dì.” wài xiāng rén bèi lǐ lǎo shí de huà shuō de miàn hóng ěr chì, biàn jiě dào: “wǒ yī shù gāo chāo, zhè xiē cǎo yào yě shì jīng xīn tiǎo xuǎn de, néng zhì bǎi bìng.” lǐ lǎo shí yáo yáo tóu, shuō: “lǎo xiān sheng, yī shù shì yào kào zhēn cái shí xué de, bù néng kào huā yán qiǎo yǔ lái méng piàn shì rén. nǐ de zuò fǎ shí zài shì ràng rén xīn hán.” wài xiāng rén bèi lǐ lǎo shí shuō de wú yán yǐ duì, zhǐ hǎo shōu shí dōng xi huī liū liū de lí kāi le. cūn mín men duì lǐ lǎo shí de xíng wéi gǎn dào pèi fú, dōu shuō tā zhèng zhí shàn liáng, shì tā men xīn zhōng de bàng yàng. lǐ lǎo shí yě yīn cǐ gèng jiā jiān dìng zì jǐ de xiàn nìng, jì xù yǐ yī běn zhèng jīng de tài dù, zuò hǎo zì jǐ de shì.

In a remote mountain village, there lived an elderly man named Li Lao Shi. Li Lao Shi was known for his honesty and kindness, and every word and action of his was so serious and solemn, that he never smiled. The villagers knew that, if Li Lao Shi said something, it was golden words and no deception. One day, a stranger came to the village from another village. He claimed to be a wandering doctor and claimed that he could cure all diseases. To attract business, the stranger set up a makeshift shed at the village entrance, put up some herbs, and brought along some strange tools. The villagers curiously watched, but they were all skeptical of his medical skills. Li Lao Shi was also among the crowd. He carefully observed the actions of the stranger and found that his techniques were not professional and the herbs he used were all everyday things. So, he walked in front of the stranger with a serious expression and said, “Old man, these herbs you are using are all ordinary things, they can’t cure all diseases. If you practice your medicine so seriously, I’m afraid you will mislead people.” The stranger was embarrassed by Li Lao Shi’s words and defended himself, “My medical skills are excellent, these herbs are carefully selected and can cure all diseases.” Li Lao Shi shook his head and said, “Old man, medical skills are based on real skills and knowledge, you cannot deceive people with flowery words. Your actions are really discouraging.” The stranger was speechless by Li Lao Shi’s words and had to pack up and leave in disappointment. The villagers admired Li Lao Shi’s behavior and said that he was honest and kind and was a role model for them. Li Lao Shi was therefore more determined in his belief, continuing to do his own things with a serious demeanor.

Usage

这个成语多用于形容一个人在说话或做事时，态度庄重严肃，给人一种严肃认真、不苟言笑的印象。常用来讽刺那些过于严肃呆板、不近人情的人，或者用来表达说话者对对方行为的否定和批评。

zhè ge chéng yǔ duō yòng yú xíng róng yī ge rén zài shuō huà huò zuò shì shí, tài dù zhuāng zhòng yán sù, gěi rén yī zhǒng yán sù rèn zhēn, bù gǒu yán xiào de yìn xiàng. cháng yòng lái fěng cì nà xiē guò yú yán sù dāi bǎn, bù jìn rén qíng de rén, huò zhě yòng lái biǎo dá shuō huà zhě duì duì fāng xíng wéi de fǒu dìng hé pī píng.

This idiom is often used to describe someone who speaks or acts in a serious and solemn manner, giving the impression of being serious, earnest and unsmiling. It is often used to satirize those who are too serious, rigid and unsympathetic, or to express the speaker’s denial and criticism of the other’s behavior.

Examples

• 他一本正经地讲着笑话，逗得大家哈哈大笑。

  tā yī běn zhèng jīng de jiǎng zhe xiào hua, dòu de dà jiā hā hā dà xiào.

  He told jokes with a straight face, making everyone laugh.

• 领导一本正经地批评了我们的工作，让我们认真反思。

  lǐng dǎo yī běn zhèng jīng de pī píng le wǒ men de gōng zuò, ràng wǒ men rèn zhēn fǎn sī.

  The leader criticized our work with a straight face, making us reflect seriously.

Related Idioms

• 道貌岸然

• 不苟言笑

• 一本正经

• 正经

Opposite Idioms

• 嬉皮笑脸

• 油嘴滑舌

• 油头滑脑